The three continued their walk in silence. Their minds constantly think of new scenarios, new answers, and new plans on how this could’ve came to be. None of it made sense, but would it be any better if they just left this to rot?

Kaelstrom came to his conclusion already, “We have to tell the council about this. If Delpharia decides to pretend the Checkpoint Village doesn’t exist anymore now, then surely the ones back home will do.”

Exien nodded his head in agreement, with Aelara’s face brimming with confidence. With the two behind the captain’s decision, it was clear. There was nothing left in this village for them.

The Vanguardias trio headed back, walking past deceased bodies, empty houses, and empty carts. Aelara took some time to look at them, prompting a question.

“You guys never checked the houses?” She asked.

Kaelstrom’s face lit up with realization, but Exien made sure to comment before he did.

“Already checked, just like the bodies, nothing was worth checking.” He said, and Aelara took his words as truth.

Kaelstrom tried to remember when he did, and simply the time with Exien’s special investigation magic when he pointed out Aelara had followed them. He must also have checked the entire village as well.

In the end, truly nothing was there for them.

By the time they got to the gate, or what was left of it, Exien delayed his steps purposefully to trail behind. He spoke up with Kaelstrom and Aelara heavy into their own conversations about their duties and the Vanguardias.

“I…I’ll catch up with you guys later, I’m going to check one last time for any mana signatures.”

Both Aelara and Kaelstrom turned around, while the former didn’t really care, the latter was a bit paranoid. He never did really like eerie situations such as this, and anything this unreal.

“Are you sure? Did you not already check with your investigation magic skill?” Kaelstrom asked, and only asking because the forgotten village was starting to slightly unease him minute by minute.

Exien shook his head, “Sometimes it’s not positive. I wouldn’t want to leave anything as valuable as a signature for this.”

Kaelstrom nodded his head, but he slowly became wary of that statement. Something Exien was saying…wasn’t exactly clicking on with him.

“Then…should we head back and check for the houses like Aelara said? Your investigation might not be as positive as it was promised to be.” Kaelstrom shot back. Aelara watched the one-two between them go, and was genuinely lost.

As of now, she wasn’t reading in between the lines as much as Kaelstrom was.

Exien was taken aback, surely the more the merrier rule would apply here–especially with the mighty Vanguardias. With both Kaelstrom and Aelara staring at him, Exien spoke again.

“We can. A lot of houses there is…but I know we can. Surely the Great Dragon wouldn’t have done too much in damage to Aethyra by the time we get back. ”

Kaelstrom narrowed his eyes down at Exien, his unmoving, and not betraying any sense of his position. He didn’t want to jump towards any conclusions towards his peer, but with each second he couldn’t help it. Only for a split moment, when a tumbleweed had gone past him, did that solidify Kaelstrom’s decision alone.

“Fine, knock yourself out. I figured creepy places like this is your type of thing.” He confirmed, and turned around with a wave of his hand. Aelara looked back between the two, as confused as she was, and followed Kaelstrom anyways.

The moment the two were out of earshot, Exien sighed. He began his walk, making sure not to hold them up in something like checking for mana signatures would be lazily. There’s no telling what the Great Dragon had done to Aethyra.

He checked a few more bodies, walking with steady paces with each one. No signatures, as he figured, burns oddly placed around bodies.

“Dragonfire leaves you charred, whatever fire this was…left with a whole lot more than just this.” He commented, lifting the hand of one. Cold, but faintly, carrying the traces of something. Mana…but yet not mana at the same time.

He noticed it earlier, with the first body he inspected, and then the other. That seemed to be the common trait among these fallen people, but what was it? It was still unclear to him, and there was no way he could let Kaelstrom or Aelara know.

They already had too much on their plates to begin with.

With the cold hand still within his grasp, he still didn’t understand.

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“Kaelstrom…he was there. I figured even he would’ve picked up on it…but he didn’t. Was this apart of the mana scan?”

It was moreso a question Exien asked himself. As brave he knew Kaelstrom to be, he had no doubts that he wouldn’t have pointed it out.

Exien scratched his head, just as well as confused. “But…what I felt. It wasn’t entirely…a signature, so to speak. Not only that…but what I felt earlier when I conducted my mana scan skill.”

He looked towards the direction of the village, a part where he, Kaelstrom, and Aelara didn’t head to. If anything, all of his questions could be answered right there, potentially.

Maybe…just maybe…all of this would start to make sense.

He began his trek, coming across stairs as he took his time. From time to time occasionally looking at the bodies of the fallen against this foe.

He would press his fingers ever so slightly against each other. Trying to remember what that mysterious source felt like. Gripping, and pressurized, even for the faintest touch he had it in.

Exien was curious about it. It was unlike anything he’s ever came across. Even mana doesn’t tend to pretend it’s mana, so why did this source attempt to? Why did it feel…so different?

By the time he got to the bottom of the steps, he accessed another part of the village, which looked like to be some sort of downtown urban district. However, just as the initial part…this district too was devoid of life.

He kept walking, occasionally touching the bodies of the dead to feel for the source. It struck true everytime, but to understand it became another big feat.

With his Mana Scan skill earlier, he felt a large concentration of the source around this area. No doubt it was the same thing. And thanks to it earlier, it would be no different than the empty houses.

He followed his directions, and came across a statue. A large one, not like the destroyed one before. A stone statue. He studied it more, trying to dig up anything from his mind of studies or history.

Exien hummed lowly, “A stone statue of a Serpent? I didn’t think anyone still remembered Lord Xavi in this day of age.” He shortly commented, calling back to the history of Aegis.

But, he wasn’t here for history lesson so to speak, he was here for the source.

And as he walked up the statue more, he could see it. A dark purple energy leaking from the deceased body against the statue, Exien could only assume that they too, try to run away.

With each step, and the closer he got, it’s pressure became more intense. A bit weary on Exien’s physical state, but heavily dampened his mana overall.

The dark purple energy seemed to remain unstable, chaotic even. It soared around the body and moreso around the statue as if to say it was it’s home.

Carefully enough, he made sure to come across it. There’s no telling what this source could be. If anything, Exien might have came across something entirely new.

“Could this…could this be the source of the massacre?” Exien thought. He wouldn't know why this might have been the reason until he brought it in for testing.

He got closer and closer, feeling his mana dampening even more now. At the very least, he still could exude mana as a physical presence. That’s all Exien really needed honestly.

Exien clasped his hands, and later set them apart. Exuding mana as a physical presence, he slowly formed a clear sphere around the dark purple matter. Nothing special, but should be enough to contain the source.

It’s unpredictable nature did not like being confined apparantly, Exien scoffed. Such a unknown but yet intriguing thing. He just couldn’t wait to get back to Aethyra and test it constantly. Even his face couldn’t hide his own excitement.

As he got back up from crouching, a flash of pride washed over of him. To think that he found the source of the destruction…or at least one step closer. It was nothing like ever before, and yet something entirely new.

He traced his finger along the sphere, and the dark purple mass seemed to follow along with him, despite it’s volatile and chaotic nature. Exien, just for a moment, considered it’s properties.

“Unfortunately, I can’t know anymore until I get closer to it. Responsive? Yes. Sentient, however? Highly doubt it.” He spoke, already giving out his verbal notes for the substance as he continued to trace his finger around the sphere.

In his other hand, he pressed his fingers. Remembering the pressure and hold it had, it felt…addictive, almost. While the source in the sphere nullified the effects it put on Exien concerning his mana…he just couldn’t help it.

With both of his hands, he slowly tore down the sphere. The substance laid there, within it’s hands. Moving ever so slightly. As expected, it felt light, and he could feel the immense power from it. This must’ve been what the traces were showing him previously in trials.

Not mana, but he could feel the immense power it carried. Exien figured that only if you had gotten real close like he was could you feel it. The increasing wave of power coming from the source felt…

“...i-incredible.” He spoke out. It’s dark purple light pulsing against his face. The moment he realize he had caught himself looking at it for too long, he shook his head out of it.

“I need to take it back, and if perhaps I can keep it confined. Kaelstrom and Aelara…they need to see this.”

Exien’s hands slowly began to warm up with mana, taking a bit longer due to the substance’s immense negation of mana around it. He needed to study that too.

But, it twitched.

Exien noticed it.

It twitched at the sudden mention of, “confinement”.

For a moment, Exien thought.

“...you…you can hear me—”

Caught off rapidly, the substance latched onto his face. Exien stumbled backwards, moving everywhere frantically to get it off of him. His hands dug deep into it, trying to get it off of him, even if by a piece.

His leg hit the head of a deceased body, and he tripped over. Continuing to dig deep, and by the time his vision was restored, he instantly stopped.

His eyes gleamed a dark hue of purple before returning to their natural color–black. He took a deep breath, and exhaled.

“What…what just happened?” He asked himself, and he couldn’t find the answer.

Maybe doing all of this searching wasn’t worth the trouble.

He began his trek back, looking back once. Placing where the substance could’ve went. Did it go away with his efforts?

Exien decided to be optimistic, just this once.